Win Shazam! Book That Pays Tribute to ’40s Superhero

Shazam ruled comic books in the 1940s.Image courtesy Abrams ComicArts

Superman got slaughtered at the newstand back in 1940 by a comic book character who assumed superheroic powers simply by saying “Shazam!” Uttering the magical acronym (for Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury) transformed meek Billy Batson into the World War II era’s most popular pulp-fiction crime fighter.

After spawning fan clubs and a serialized movie series, the all-American man in red tights known to millions as Shazam was brought down in 1953 by a copyright lawsuit.

New book Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal celebrates the 70th anniversary of Whiz Comics’ clean-cut kingpin. Co-authored by graphic designer Chip Kidd and photographer Geoff Spear, the hardcover volume draws from collector Harry Matetsky’s massive archive to present artwork by C.C. Beck, Mac Raboy and Jack Kirby, along with photos of vintage decoder rings, watches, cardboard jets and other toys that now fetch thousands of dollars on eBay.

Comic book artist Alex Ross, who illustrated DC Comics 2000 revival Shazam: The Power of Hope says in the book’s introduction, “Shazam dominated the greatest period of the comic book art form. No one held a candle to him.”

Win Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal!

Publisher Abrams ComicArts has teamed with Wired.com to give away three copies of Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal, retail priced at $35. To enter the contest, comment below with your thoughts on the supreme question: What made Shazam cool? Three winners will be picked at random and notified by e-mail. Deadline to enter is 12:01 a.m. Pacific on Dec. 21, 2010.